Kura stumbled through the dense forest, her skeletal form barely able to carry her weight. Starvation clawed at her mind, her instincts driving her to the edge of desperation. She shifted her shape, groaning softly as her form twisted into the image of a young woman a previous victim. Her skin smoothed, her tangled black hair turned sleek and clean, and her glowing yellow eyes dulled into the warm brown of a frightened human. She donned a tattered dress scavenged from her prey, completing the illusion of a helpless, desperate wanderer.

Reaching the edge of the woods, Kura’s hollow gaze settled on a small house, its warm light glowing in the evening dimness. Her tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and she swallowed hard as the scent of human flesh reached her. Trembling with hunger, she approached the door, every step deliberate to appear fragile. Raising a trembling hand, she knocked, each rap soft and uneven.

“Please… help me” she rasped, her voice wavering and raw, carefully crafted to sound pitiful. She leaned weakly against the doorframe, her lips quivering as she added. “Lost… hurt… hungry… please…” Her stomach growled audibly, though not from starvation alone. Saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth, hastily wiped away as she waited for the door to open, the thought of fresh meat making her heart pound with anticipation.